Failing CRD tranny

tomasnc · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:31 pm

Among other issues my 137,000 miles CRD's transmission is acting up. The fluid leaks down overnight and I have to wait for the TC to fill up or what ever it does to engage.
I have another transmission from my roll over that has 96,000 miles on it.

Can any transmission shop rebuild this unit? Is the Suncoast torque converter any better than Euro torque converter?

Thanks,

Tom

papaindigo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:27 pm

Look around for lots of chat on tranny fluid leak down. See for example viewtopic.php?f=5&t=74339&p=791845#p791845 It shouldn't be a tranny rebuild issue.

SunCoast is better than Euro also more expensive. Is it worth the extra $ I don't know as apparently the Euro will handle pretty much whatever you throw at it. I have a SunCoast because I had the $s and they were close by and willing to do the install.

r1perk · **Posted:** Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:24 pm

I am using a rebuilt hemi TC in mine. It has a low stall which is better for this diesel. Factory TC is med stall. Too much slippage at low RPM for me. I only paid $125 at the factory in Dayton, OH. They even gave me a tour. It was great!

As for the bleed down I put an additional o-ring on the filter and a small medal brace on the end of the filter near the up tube. My trans has never worked better!

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:32 am

Intersting new line of thought on this. Please advise as to where these ideas originated from and what led you to try them in this case. Also, a detailed description/photo of the brace would be great.

Thanks,

DOC

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:35 am

When was the last time the filter and fuilds where changed? Also has the system ever been flushed completely since you have owned the CRD? Because a lot of times a hard engagment in the morning or after sitting a few hours it just the filters. I would honestly start there if it has been awhile since the last filter change.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

Install a new front pump (newer style), a new torque converter, new filters, a transgo shift kit, and you should be back on the road in no time.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:28 pm

Zach,

I need to change the filter. The previous owner said this was done....

When the F37 was done didn't a new pump get installed too?

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:38 pm

The F37 was just a programming change in both the ECM and TCM. I would try the filters first before i went through the trouble and cost of a rebuild. But if the filters dont fix it a Euro TC and front pump will do the trick and you can through the transgo kit in to for extra insurance.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:58 pm

The F-37 included:
1. reprogram the ECU for less HP/torque
2. reprogram the TCM for "higher" shift points - final shift to 5th full lockup went from ca. 57 mph to ca. 62 mph - NOTE some got lucky and the dealer "forgot" to reprogram the TCM
3. "inspection" to determine if a new torque convertor was needed - replacement was always done on the very early 05 TC with the plastic part that could barely get off the lot without self destructing and supposed to be done for the "2n" gen TC if it was shuddering or otherwise having problems. NOTE replacement was not with the Euro unless done after the Euro came out on 07 AND you supplied the Euro TC

I don't know when the new pump came out but as far as I know it was not part of the F-37

tomasnc · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 3:15 pm

O'reily's headed to the shop with Wix filters for the transmission and fuel. We'll see what happens.

bugnout · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:13 pm

In my experience, everytime my tranny starts draining down or delay engagement before warm, its time to change the filters. Don't know why, but everytime I do a filter change it fixes the problem (for about 30k miles)

I just did my tranny filter change last night. Two things different from last time. The canister filter was the right tightness, but the plastic screw on filter adapter is supposed to stay with the filter. It was left in the tranny when I unscrewed it. came out easily, no effort, but not sure why it seperated from the filter housing.

Flat filter gasket was firmly attached this time. Last time I did the change, it didn't seem to have a tight seal against the tranny. be careful not to scratch the mating surface when you pull out the old gasket. I have a pair of bent needle nose pliers that are great for popping this gasket off.

Took more than 7 quarts to fill the tranny after the change, don't think it was low to start with, but I didn't check it. I just think I got more than the usually 5 quarts tranny fluid out when I dropped the pan.

amslube · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:57 pm

My dainback problem started about 6 months after I changed my filters and tranny fluid. Tried a factory Mopar filter kit and this made no difference. Lived with it for a year or so then I dropped the trans and replaced the front pump and installed a Euro TC. No problems since. Been almost 2 years.

woodtick · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:17 pm

r1perk wrote:

I am using a rebuilt hemi TC in mine. It has a low stall which is better for this diesel. Factory TC is med stall.

How does the low stall vs med stall improve things? Is there an MPG difference? RPM difference?

Glend · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 1:05 am

There maybe nothing wrong with your transmission, that a cheap $5 part can't fix. The 545RFE has a small anti-drainback valve near the spin on return line filter. That valve should be changed when a service is done. The valve prevents the fluid from draining out of the system during long idle periods, like overnight. If your transmission works fine after about 30 seconds each morning - the time taken for the pump to refill the system, then it's probably because the drainback valve is stuck open. Try replacing it (along with a normal two filter and fluid service) and I'll bet that fixes the problem.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 1:17 pm

So, is that valve external (i.e. accessible without removing the pan)? Is it part number 4799 681?

I follow this forum pretty closely and have never picked up this being mentioned before. Over 100K and never had a drainback problem. Just changed the fluid and used MOPAR filters, but did not know about valve replacement. NOW, I have a drainback problem.

And, I'm not the only one this has happened to. This could possibly explain many of the cases where OEM filters have been used and there is still a drainback problem.

Thanks!

DOC

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 3:18 pm

The drain back valve is internal on the screw on filters it holds just enough fluid so on start up the transmission has enough left in the system to engage and give the pump time to catch up. If you changed both filters recently and are now having the issue then you more then likely didn't righted the filter down enough on got a bad filter.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:39 pm

"righted"? (Tightened?). Transmission shop flushed and installed the OEM filters I provided. Would have given them a new valve if I had known.

Is that the right part #?

DOC

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

So that answers my question. You had a shop do your tranny, how do you know it was done correctly? Its easy for the flat filter to split at the seams or slip off if not installed correctly. I'd drop the pan yourself and check the flat filter very carefully.

bugnout · **Posted:** Sun Jun 09, 2013 3:41 pm

DOC4444 wrote:

So, is that valve external (i.e. accessible without removing the pan)? Is it part number 4799 681?

I follow this forum pretty closely and have never picked up this being mentioned before. Over 100K and never had a drainback problem. Just changed the fluid and used MOPAR filters, but did not know about valve replacement. NOW, I have a drainback problem.

If this is true, this is the first time I've heard of this as well.

I've never used the Mopar kit, always the WIX kit, including the gasket provided. Haven't had any problems, except as noted above, about 30K, I start getting drainback, late engagement issues. I just let it idle in nuetral for about 30 seconds, until I can get around to a filter change.

Joes06crd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:27 pm

might sound like a stupid question but where can i get a euro tc? i have been looking and cant seem to spot one anywhere.

Failing CRD tranny

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